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MSI's Windows 7-based WindPad 100W now on sale for $710
MSI's first entry into the wild, wonderful, and oftentimes wishy-washy world of tablets is now on sale, but frankly, we aren't too sure we'd be jumping to hand over our $710 -- er, $709.95 -- for the WindPad 100W. The retailer is Simply Electronics, which just so happens to rank a few rungs below Amazon in terms of heardability-ness. At any rate, those willing to take a flying leap of faith should expect a 10.1-inch device loaded up with Windows 7 Starter, Intel's Atom Z530 1.6GHz single-core processor, 2GB of memory a 32GB SSD and a battery that'll keep things humming for around six hours. Here's hoping it'll perform better than that first wave of Win7 tablets, and you know, that you actually receive one.
ASUS EPad: like the EeePad, but with less ecstasy
Well, isn't this typical ASUS. Yet another Eee Pad, or this time an 'EPad' as the placard says, has shown up on the Computex show floor. While the company introduced two Eee Pads at its press conference earlier this week -- the 10-inch EP101TC with NVIDIA Tegra 2 / Windows Embedded Compact 7 and the 12-inch EP121 with Intel / Windows 7 -- this new 10-inch version has popped up running Windows 7 at the Intel booth. We'd be lying if we said we knew what was going on here, but to us it looks like ASUS shot out a working Windows 7 model -- perhaps just to have a functioning device to display on the show floor. There's no telling if it's being powered by Intel's Atom Moorestown platform or a current Menlow Z Series CPU, but the design looks very similar to that of the EP101TC. We've sent off an inquiry to ASUS' PR team, but you'll still want to check out the video after the break of a very slim slate and real live "booth babe."
Intel's Atom Z6xx series isn't targeting Windows Phone 7, but 'full Windows experience' still an Atom priority
As many times as Intel has tried and failed to shoehorn its way into the phone arena, you'd think it'd want to pimp as many notable platforms as it possibly could -- but strangely, Windows Phone 7 is notably absent from Intel's fact sheet on the just-announced, smartphone-focused Z6xx series of Atom cores. Instead, the wording of the paperwork clearly spells out that Android and MeeGo / Moblin are the focal points right now, which is leading everyone to wonder whether Intel's looking to steer clear of Microsoft's mobile strategy altogether. Granted, Microsoft's focus is clearly on ARM right now with its Qualcomm partnership having been announced back in February, but we're sure it wouldn't take too much pressure from Intel to get an x86 build of Windows Phone out there if these guys really wanted to play ball. We reached out to Intel to get some clarification on the issue and got this in response: "Intel's goal is to ensure we offer our customers a choice of software that runs best on our processors. Yesterday's announcement was focused on Linux OSs, however our strategy is to also support a full Windows experience on Atom as we do with Menlow, Intel's first generation atom chip for mobile devices and Pinetrail, Intel's chip family for netbooks. Stay tuned." What's getting us here is Intel's seemingly careful phrasing: "full Windows experience on Atom." Does that mean that Intel wants to keep Atom up in the Windows 7 end of the horsepower spectrum and avoid Windows Phone for the foreseeable future? It seems like a tough sell to say that Android is playing in an entirely different ballpark than Windows Phone is, and we're not sure that Intel can effectively argue that distinction -- but hey, with the Z6xx series' iffy power consumption stats, maybe it's for the best. [Thanks, R2V2]
LG's ultraslim X300 launching in Asia, Middle East and South America this month (updated)
An 11.6-inch display fit within a thickness of 17.5mm. Sure, we're mixing up our measurement systems, but whichever way you slice it, the X300 is one extremely thin device. LG has now announced that availability in the Asian, Middle Eastern and South American markets will be forthcoming this month, though all we know on the topic of price is that it'll "vary country-by-country." With up to 2GB of RAM, integrated 3G, and a 128GB SSD option on tap, we'll even forgive the inclusion of a 2GHz Menlow CPU (Atom Z550) that places the X300 closer to Sony's VAIO X than the Core 2 Duo-driven MacBook Air that it aspires to be associated with. Check out our hands-on pics over here while we wait, hope and pray for a release on more familiar shores. Update: We've now come across LG's Korean pricing, which is set at 1,590,000 Won ($1,424). [Thanks, Sascha and juanvaldez]%Gallery-87662%
LG serves up 11.6-inch X300 ultraportable
LG pushed out the bulk of its releases yesterday during its CES press event, but today a straggler has popped up in the ultraportable realm. The X300 (not to be confused with Lenovo's lappie with the same name) is an 11.6-incher that measures just 17.6mm thin and features a reflective keyboard, borderless touchpad (complete with tactile feedback), a 2GHz Intel CPU, 1.3 megapixel webcam and an SSD. It even ships with a spare 2-cell battery for up to seven total hours of operation, and while we know it'll be rolled out worldwide starting next month, there's nary a mention of a price.
Video: Moblin 2.1 for MIDs and phones, sort of in action
Although Intel made some waves yesterday with the announcement of the smartphone-capable Moblin 2.1 release, the reality here on the ground at IDF is pretty much status quo: phones and other connected devices based on the next-gen Moorestown mobile platform are nowhere to be found, and the actual products on the floor are the same chunky MIDs we've all come to know and ignore. But while the devices remain somewhat uninteresting, Moblin itself has some terrific potential from what we've seen -- there's deep location and social networking integration with a unified contacts list that works a lot like Palm's Synergy, standard Linux apps can be easily ported over and run without any fuss, and manufacturers and developers can even ditch the standard UI and develop whatever they want on top. It's definitely cool stuff -- we just wish Intel had given us this demo on a compelling hardware instead of an older Menlow-based Compal MID, you know? Video after the break.
Compal tries harder with Intel-based KAX15 MID
We're not so sure that being the "world's smallest Windows-based MID" is really a benefit for those who appreciate keys that are large enough to mash and screens that are large enough to see, but whatever the case, Compal seems pretty proud of its accomplishments here. Shown off along with scores of other me-too MIDs at Computex, the KAX15 is based around Intel's existing Menlow platform and sports the polarizing tilt-and-slide mechanism for unmasking the QWERTY keyboard. As for specs, we're told that it packs an 800 x 480 display and an 800MHz processor, but further details have yet to flow. There's a hands-on vid just past the break if you're somehow intrigued with shoving Windows in your left cargo pocket.
MID device sales far lower than estimates, only Intel surprised
You know that MID / UMPC craze (remember origami?) that was supposed to change our lives? Well, it hasn't. In fact, if the unofficial numbers reported by DigiTimes are correct, then sales of bulky, Menlow-based MIDs have been a disaster which helps explain why manufacturers have grown skeptical of the platform. DigiTimes is reporting sales of just 30,000 units compared to the 150,000 - 200,000 units Intel promised estimated. Intel claims that the weak sales were due to the global economic downturn but we have another opinion: mainstream consumers don't want a device that is too big for the pocket, provides less functionality than a netbook, and is priced like a laptop. That, and we still haven't seen a compelling usage scenario for this device category -- simply pairing Intel's next generation Moorestown with Moblin isn't a fix. Of course, it's no surprise that Intel got blindsided by the rise of the modern smartphone, that's not their turf... yet.
Intel's CULV platform guns for AMD's Neo: Danger Will Robinson, Danger!
Poor, poor AMD. Just when it found a niche above Atom and below the Core 2 Duo with its Athlon Neo, back comes Intel with its new "Consumer Ultra-Low Voltage" platform -- something we started to hear about a few weeks ago. This from DigiTimes' "sources at notebook makers." New CULV-based ultra-portables from the "top-three notebook vendors" (that'd be HP, Dell, and Acer by most accounts) should be hitting shelves in the second quarter of 2009 carrying prices between $699 and $899. DigiTimes claims that the new platform will allow Intel to divide the laptop market up into four segments for 2009: 1) Traditional 12.1-inch laptops and above, 2) Atom or Pineview-based netbooks, 3) Menlow-based MIDs, 4) Ultra-portables with displays between 11.x and 13.3-inches. It's also interesting to hear that the rumored 13.3-inch HP Mini-note coming in June will carry the CULV instead of the Atom Zxx on "Intel's insistence." Well, well, being pushy again are we Intel?
HP rumored to have new Mini-notes on the way, father still unknown
While the Viviene Tam Edition Mini 1000 sure was pretty, it's hardly what you'd call "new." According to undisclosed sources cited by the always questionable DigiTimes, Hewlett-Packard is toying with the idea of bringing a few new infants to market in the Mini-note line. If all goes to plan, a WWAN-enabled Mini-note 2150 (13.3-inch, presumably) will hit the scene in early June. For what it's worth, a new 11.6-inch model is also mentioned, and as expected, the whole crew (however large) is apt to arrive with Intel Atom's within. Guess we'll just have to wait and see, folks.
Has the Atom-powered WiBrain i1 UMPC fallen off the map?
Or more importantly, do you even care? One quick glance over at WiBrain's website will leave you searching to no avail for any traces of the i1, and while it's a shame we might not ever see this hardware package mass produced, we can't say we're terribly surprised. We mean, really, how many of your nerdy friends have saved up for one of these unwieldy UMPCs over, say, a netbook or the like? If the i1 really puffed its last breath at IFA, at least we can say we went to its farewell party. Ah well, onward and upward, right?[Via Slashgear]Update: The unit is still hanging around on WiBrain's German website, which possibly explains its IFA presence. Maybe it's being reserved for a Europe-only introduction? Thanks, xtron!
Intel Centrino Atom becomes Atom, Atom still Atom, you're confused
Oh good, another marketing-speak change-up tossed our way from Intel. Apparently, the Centrino Atom naming convention is no more, leaving the in-house branded Menlow chipset used in MIDs and UMPCs essentially nameless. Atom, as you may recall, is the name of the Silverthorn and Diamondville-class CPUs. Got it? Of course you don't. No worries, that's why you've got us. You just focus on trying to understand the difference between MIDs and UMPCs and netbooks and ultra-portables and we'll take care of the rest.
Aigo's Atom-packin' MID gets unboxed
Aigo's MID (more formally known as the MID P8860) just arrived in the anxious hands of UMPC Fever, and of course, it uploaded a number of photographs so we could all share in the joyous unboxing experience. Granted, you've already seen so many in the wild shots that you aren't apt to be surprised, but we're rather impressed with just how nicely everything was arranged inside of the subtle black box. We'd totally have to debadge it (is the Atom sticker really necessary... really?), but other than that it's not a half bad item to have residing in your rear pocket. More shots in the read link.[Via Pocketables, thanks Jenn]
WiBrain to offer Atom / SSD / HSDPA-packin' I1 UMPC
Say what you will about the attractiveness (or lack thereof) of WiBrain's line of -- shall we say, unique -- UMPCs, but hardware wise, they're hard to bang on. The B1 just recently saw an update that added in a succulent SSD, and the all new I1 looks to share in that joyousness while also including two more tidbits we've been longing for. According to early reports, the I1 will feature a tweaked B1 design with a mildly updated casing, but the real fun is within; we're talking a 1.1GHz / 1.3GHz Intel Atom CPU, SSD options as roomy as 64GB, Windows XP or Linux running the show, 6-hours of battery life when browsing and a drool-worthy HSDPA module. Pricing has yet to be disclosed, but we are told to expect a worldwide launch (yes, including North America) in October. [Via Pocketables, thanks Jenn]
Universal abit readying two MIDs for the second half of 2008
Details are really light here, but the folks at HEXUS.net caught sight of this pair of MIDs from Universal abit (the company formed by USI's acquisition of abit) at CeBIT, which they say are on track for a release sometime in the second half of this year. Both of those are unsurprisingly Menlow-based devices (otherwise known as Centrino Atom), and HEXUS speculates that they'll each likely show up under any number of different brands (a pretty safe assumption, if you ask us). No matter how they're branded, however, they're sure going to have plenty of competition by the time they actually get let loose.[Via Pocketables]
Lippert intros CoreExpress-Menlow module for handheld devices
We've already seen plenty of prototypes of Menlow-based handhelds (or MIDs), but it looks like Germany's Lippert Embedded Computers is among the first to put together a finalized version of the core component of said devices, with it now showing off its CoreExpress-Menlow module. Aimed at everything from automotive to medical to point-of-service devices (in addition to more consumer-minded handhelds), this board measures just 2.6 x 2.3-inches and packs the expected Silverthorne processor, along with some soldered on RAM, built-in WiFi and GPS, and support for a number of different storage options, among other shrunk-down features. No word on pricing or availability just yet, however, although Lippert will apparently have more to say about that at the Embedded World 2008 trade show later this week.
BenQ's MID gets official-er, can be shaken like a martini
You might remember that little BenQ MID prototype which was doing the rounds at IDF and CES. Well, it looks like the folks at HQ have decided to get all official with the newly-repainted gadget -- creatively dubbed the BenQ Mobile Internet Device -- during another three letter party, MWC. According to the press release, the unit boasts a 4.8-inch touchscreen, 0.3-megapixel webcam, and "high-speed mobile internet access." Interestingly, the company appears to be aiming for some fancy-shmancy gesture input, like sliding finger movements and the ability to shake the device to minimize windows -- a feature which should notably increase the numbers of these which get thrown across a room. BenQ still hasn't given any release date or expected price on the Menlow-based device, so don't start any breath-holding competitions just yet. There's one more press image after the break, if you haven't seen enough (and we suspect you haven't).[Via jkkmobile]
Inventec's UMPC 7-A and 5-D get pictured
Our eyes may still be slightly out of focus from the complete lack of sleep obtained while at CES, but the two Inventec UMPCs purportedly going by 7-A / 5-D sure look a heck of a lot different than the model we peeked in Vegas. As you can glean from the image above, the UMPC 7-A sports a nifty slider design that supposedly places the QWERTY keyboard at a "more natural angle" for the user. As for the so-called UMPC 5-D (shown after the jump), it ditches the aforementioned design and takes a more modular approach to satisfy those who just adore buying a new dock for every handheld they own. Regrettably, we've no hard details surrounding the specs of these two machines, but we doubt we'll have to twiddle our thumbs for too much longer before finding out.[Via Pocketables]
Hands-on with Lenovo's new Menlow MID
We've seen it in pics, but now we get to hold it. The new Lenovo MID being shown off at the Intel booth at this year's CES can't help but remind us of one of our favorite old game systems... the Atari Lynx. Beyond that, it sports another Linux-based interface, with a decent looking UI put on top -- though we're pretty underwhelmed by the resistive touchscreen's response. We're not sure what they think we're going to do with that number pad on the side... unless this can be used as a phone, perhaps. Take a look at the pics and judge for yourself.%Gallery-13093%
Hands-on with Aigo's iPhone-ripping, Menlow-based MID
We got a chance to play with the new Aigo MID that sports the Intel Menlow chip, and here's a slew of shots for you to peep. A few items of note: first, the thing is totally trying to rip the iPhone's interface -- you can't really debate that, though sitting atop its janky Linux implementation, it feels pretty third rate. On the bright side, the little guy uses a new, touchscreen-MID-centric version of Mozilla called CoolFox, which is nice to see on a handheld. Check the gallery and see for yourself.%Gallery-13089%